newbobooks Chapter 301 I came here just by smelling it
Chapter 301 I came here just by smelling it
As dusk fell, the bustling and noisy Chang'an city gradually subsided.
In the small courtyard of Yu Yu's family, a small red clay stove was burning brightly, the soup in the pot was bubbling, and the aroma was rising.
Lamb, cabbage, tofu, chicken, pork, various meatballs, vegetables and other ingredients are neatly arranged. The family sits around, laughing and chatting, using bamboo chopsticks in their hands, enjoying the hot pot, feeling warm and cozy.
Xiaoyu smacked her lips and said with a smile, "This tastes amazing. If our tavern launches this dish, it will definitely attract a lot of customers."
Yu Yu's eyes also lit up, full of anticipation.
At this time, inside the palace.
Li Shimin was reviewing memorials with a slightly frown on his face, as if burdened by government affairs.
A secret guard quietly arrived and knelt to report, "Your Majesty, I heard that everyone in Zuixianlou is enjoying a new and unusual dish called hot pot. The aroma is so fragrant that everyone salivates. It's become a legend in the streets, and many people are rushing to try it."
Li Shimin put down the memorial, his eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? What's this new thing called hot pot? How could it have such magical powers?"
After saying that, he stood up and paced back and forth, as if thinking about something.
Soon after, Li Shimin went to Zuixian Tower.
Outside the Zuixian Tower, the lights were already bright, and people were coming and going, making it very lively.
When Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao saw the emperor coming in person, they hurried out to greet him and bowed to him.
Li Shimin raised his hand to indicate that there was no need for formalities and walked straight into the store. The aroma of the hot pot became more and more intense.
When everyone in the store saw the emperor coming, they all knelt down to pay their respects.
Li Shimin glanced around and saw that there was a pot on each table. The pot was filled with rich soup, and chicken, pork, various meatballs and vegetables were boiling in the pot.
He found a place to sit down, and the Yu Yu family served him personally, presenting the cooked mutton in front of him.
Li Shimin took a bite and found the mutton tender and the spicy and fragrant broth blooming on his tongue. He couldn't help but praise it, "Wonderful! This flavor is truly unique, the best in the world!"
Li Hao's face was filled with smiles, his eyes full of longing for the future. Yuyu excitedly took her mother's hand and said, "Our hot pot is so popular with the emperor. Zuixianlou will surely be famous in Chang'an in the future!"
Li Hao also nodded rapidly, his eyes full of pride.
Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao smiled at each other, thinking that this Zuixianlou had such a unique flavor, it would definitely become a golden signboard in Chang'an City in the future.
Ah Fu was secretly delighted in the kitchen, feeling fortunate to be able to work in this tavern with unique flavors, while Ah Cai was tidying up his clothes, thinking that there would be more dignitaries coming to visit him in the future.
Chef Mi stood at the kitchen door, looking at the bustling scene in the store. He felt more confident about this unique hot pot seasoning recipe. He only hoped that in this prosperous Tang Dynasty, the aroma of Zuixianlou's hot pot would spread far and wide and become a legend that would be passed down in the streets and alleys.
The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, and after scanning the people in the store, they landed on Yuyu. With a hint of inquiry and curiosity, he asked, "Yuyu, was this novel hot pot your idea?"
Yuyu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly knelt on her knees. Her voice, slightly nervous but still clear, replied, "Your Majesty, it's me. I simply had the sudden inspiration to combine these ingredients and cook them together. I never imagined I would catch your Majesty's eye. I'm truly terrified."
Yu Yu lowered her head, not daring to look directly at the emperor's majesty, but her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes in her sleeves. She secretly pondered the deep meaning behind this sudden question, and the air around her seemed to freeze at this moment. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the emperor's next words.
Li Shimin saw this and raised his hand slightly, a faint smile appeared on his face. He said in a calm voice: "Don't panic, Yuyu, you are quite clever. You always come up with all kinds of novel and delicious ways. This hot pot today really satisfies me."
After saying that, he waved his sleeves gently, signaling Yu Yu to stand up.
Yuyu slowly stood up, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she replied softly, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I just like to think about food. It is my honor to be liked by Your Majesty."
Yu Yu felt a little relieved and looked at the emperor secretly. He looked happy and seemed to be enjoying the hot pot very much. She couldn't help feeling a little proud.
Seeing the emperor so amiable, the people around him breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere in Zuixianlou regained some of its relaxed and lively atmosphere. The aroma of hot pot still filled the air, as if telling of this unique encounter.
Li Shimin was in high spirits. His eyes fell back on the steaming hot pot. He instructed the attendant beside him, "This hot pot tastes very good. Bring some more ingredients. I want to enjoy it to my heart's content today."
The servant took the order and left. After a while, fresh chicken, pork, juicy vegetables and various handmade meatballs were served and placed on the table one by one.
Seeing this, Yu Yu hurried forward, picked up the colander, and skillfully began to blanch the ingredients for the emperor.
The soup in the pot was bubbling and soon the tender meat and green vegetables were cooked.
Yu Yu carefully placed the prepared food into the emperor's bowl and said softly, "Your Majesty, please try these freshly cooked ingredients. They will taste even more delicious with this special dipping sauce."
Li Shimin took the bowl, looked at the tempting food in the bowl, and tasted it again.
The tender chicken and pork are covered in rich soup and melt in your mouth; the green vegetables retain their original sweetness and crispness, and the spicy and fragrant pot base makes the taste more layered.
The Emperor was delighted and nodded in praise, "It's delicious indeed! This hot pot cooking method is truly amazing. The combination of all the ingredients creates such a harmonious and delicious taste."
Seeing that the emperor was enjoying his meal, everyone in the restaurant also smiled.
Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao looked at each other, their eyes full of expectations for the future of Zuixianlou. They thought that after today, the reputation of Zuixianlou would become even more famous.
Ah Fu and Ah Cai were also very happy watching this, and they served other guests more skillfully. The whole Zuixianlou was immersed in a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Xiaoyu stood aside, watching Yuyu handle the situation with ease. A proud smile spread across her face as she whispered to the person beside her, "My daughter has always had unique ideas about food. Now even the emperor loves the hot pot she makes."
Her words were full of praise and love for Yu Yu.
When Yu Yu heard her mother's words, her cheeks turned slightly red. She looked at Xiao Yu a little embarrassedly, but her eyes were full of determination and confidence.
She knew that the emperor's favor for this hot pot was not accidental, but the result of her long-term love and study of food.
Now, she is filled with a sense of accomplishment as she is able to bring honor to her family and glory to Zuixianlou.
At this time, Chang'an Avenue outside the store was still brightly lit and bustling with people.
Inside Zuixianlou, the atmosphere became increasingly lively due to the emperor's arrival and his love for hotpot.
The aroma of hot pot continued to waft, attracting the attention of more passers-by. Everyone stopped and curiously asked about the situation inside the building, as if they all wanted to find out what was going on. This made the sign of Zuixianlou look particularly dazzling at night.